SPOTIFY is loosening the restrictions on free accounts – and it could be enough to tempt some paying subscribers to switch.
The change comes just days after the world’s most popular streaming app launched the much-requested lossless audio for premium members.
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Spotify faces increased competition from rivals like Apple, who have just expanded a new tool to make switching to Apple Music even easier.
Now Spotify is giving its free users greater freedom to listen to what they like, as opposed to being completely bound by playlists, albums and dreaded skip limits.
Pick & Play allows those with a free account to listen to “any song you want”.
Skip restrictions aren’t gone entirely though.
Spotify says there is a “daily allocated amount of on-demand time” and once you’ve used it up you will “then be limited to six-skips per hour”.
Other changes include the ability to Search & Play, so you can type in your favourite track and start listening instantly.
You can now immediately play any songs that friends have sent to you via social media apps like WhatsApp too.
However, the biggest bugbear will still exist for free users – ads.
The only way to avoid adverts is by paying for a premium subscription.
“Only Spotify Premium users have complete control to play and skip music without restrictions,” a Spotify rep told The Verge.
“Mobile listeners of the updated free experience will be able to tap on any song or search for what they’d like to play, or if they don’t like a track or simply want to hear what’s next, skip the occasional song and carry on listening.”
SPOTIFY PREMIUM – WHAT PERKS DO YOU GET?
Here’s how much Spotify Premium costs…
- Spotify Premium Individual – £11.99 / $11.99
- Spotify Premium Duo – £16.99 / $16.99
- Spotify Premium Family – £19.99 / $19.99
- Spotify Premium Student – £5.99 / $5.99
And here’s what Premium includes:
- Ad-free music listening
- Download to listen offline
- Play songs in any order
- High audio quality
- Listen with friends in real time
- Organise listening queue
Picture Credit: Getty
